AFTER tip-off from a former NPA rebel, operatives from the government forces late last week seized over a thousand pieces of dynamites to be used for anti-personnel mine (APM) at Sitio Malinao, Barangay Kalasungay, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, military officials said today.

Army's 8th Infantry Battalion commander Lieutenant Col. Edgardo Talaroc Jr., identified the former rebel as a certain Ronald Landasan alias “Gamay/Gaspar,” 47, who had recently surrendered to the 8IB.

Talaroc said Landasan was a former squad leader of Sentro De Gravidad (SDG) Dario, Guerilla Front 89, Sub-Regional Committee 2 (SRC2), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

Army personnel and Bukidnon police officers found a 1,076 pieces of 22mm x 189 grams of dynamites belonging to the communist group, said Talaroc.

He said it was a joint operations conducted by the 8IB and Bukidnon's provincial intelligence and explosive ordnance disposal and canine units.

According to Landasan the said dynamites were buried by the NPA rebels to make anti-personnel mines (APMs).

“Gitug-an nako kining mga dinamita tungod dili nako gusto nga magamit kini batuk sa mga sundalo ug mga sibilyan,” said Landasan.

He said they were intended to be used by the NPA to wound and kill soldiers operating in the mountains of Bukidnon.

Talaroc said they are now coordinating with the police to file appropriate charges against the rebels.

He said they (communist groups) have violated the Ottawa Convention which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.

“We will also investigate and find out the source who gave the dynamites to the rebels and to file charges against them,” said Talaroc

Meanwhile, 403rd Brigade commander Brigadier General Ferdinand Barandon lauded the 8IB personnel and the police for the seizure of more than a thousand dynamites.

“Napakgang nato ang plano sa communist groups nga mobuhat ug kadautan batuk sa mga kasundalohan, ilabi na nga dako ang puruhan nga adunay mga inosenteng sibilyan nga maangin ani,” Barandon said.

Talaroc said the dynamites were turned over to Bukidnon police for proper disposition.

It can be recalled that Landasan recently surrendered to the 8IB together with his wife, Diden, and two daughters. (Ben Balce)